Knitting Pipeline is sponsored by my Longaberger home businessn and Quince & Co.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Thank you to sponsor Quince & Co for the giveaway this month. Leave a comment below to enter a drawing for your choice of one of 3 gorgeous patterns and your choice of Tern to make it! Tern is a blend of American wool and tussah silk in soft, natural colors. What is your favorite color in Tern?
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Abbey Road Socks by Ann Budd

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Barcelona Scarflet by Pam Allen

Sabrina Mitts by Cecily MacDonald

Comfort Knitting aka Mac n Cheese Knitting

Thanks to Pipeliner Kim for sharing with me that the Clapotis is her comfort knitting, which she also called "Mac n Cheese Knitting." So fun. My idea of comfort knitting is a garter stitch shawl.

Sweet Baby Cap. (from Alison C)
My note: This pattern has been floating around Scandinavia for over 35 years. I knitted many of these little caps and shared the pattern with Elizabeth Zimmermann. She had never seen it before.

To stand at the edge of the sea, to sense the ebb and the flow of the tides, to feel the breath of a mist moving over a great salt marsh, to watch the flight of shore birds that have swept up and down the surf lines of the continents for untold thousands of years, to see the running of the old eels and the young shad to the sea, is to have knowledge of things that are as nearly eternal as any earthly life can be. -Rachel Carson from Under the Sea-Wind

Needle Notes

I started a Wool Peddlers Shawl by Chery Oberle but with a different method of starting the shawl. I used what might be called the Garter Tab method. My thoughts for this method:

Sometimes the pattern calls for a provisional cast on for 2 or 3 stitches. I don't bother with a provisional cast-on now. I have tried it both ways and it isn't worth it in my opinion.

I usually knit two more rows on the tab than the pattern calls for which makes it easier to pick up the required number of stitches.

I am about 3/4 of the way through the body of the Norwegian Sweater.

Correction from last week: Charlene Schurch's last name has a silent "S". It is pronounced "Church".

Book Notes

I am thrilled to give an enthusiastic 5 star rating to The Knitter's Guide to Hand-dyed and Variegated Yarn: Techniques and Projects for Handpainted and Multi-colored projects by Lorna Miser. Watson-Gupthill c2010.
Lorna Miser's new book takes some of the mystery out of those gorgeous skeins that entice knitters and then sometimes surprise, confuse, or disappoint us. Learn how to evaluated your multi-colored yarns, choose appropriate projects, and have a boatload of stitches and techniques to make these yarns really work for you.

My favorite color of tern is "back bay". I have two skeins, and I guess I am hording them. My idea of comfort knitting is a pair of plain vanilla socks--easy to carry, not too much thinking, but enough structure to keep me interested.Nancy

Hi! I found your podcast for the first time today. I truly enjoyed it. I think my comfort knitting would be either vanilla socks or baby hats thought I've done neither in a while. My favorite color of Tern is Boothbay Blue. I'd love to make the Sabrina Mitts out of it. I've never done any wristers or mittens. They are next on my list of to dos.

Your podcast is among my favorites. You always have interesting topics to share and I really appreciate your knitting videos. The last two on sock knitting were just exactly what I needed! Hearing you gush about Quince & Co. yarn makes me want to try some soon. MichelleQ on Ravelry.

Comfort knitting has to be vanilla socks. After many, many years of not knitting, I found I needed a small, portable craft to take with me as I would be sitting at a hospital bedside for a number of days. I stopped at a yarn shop and bought needles, yarn and a sock pattern. Probably not my smartest idea as it took a day or two just to get the socks cast on and set o the double point needles! And I asked every doctor, nurse, hospital staff person if they knew how to knit - no one did but i finally figured it out! Now socks have just become my traditional comfort knitting!

Last comment - spring is coming... Tonight was the first night to hear the peepers in our yard!

I really had to think about what gives me comfort in knitting and I realized it's actually variety. The best way I can describe it is a project with stages. A good example is Taygete by Romi Hill. It begins with garter stripes in two colorways, which is simple, yet interesting to watch the colorplay as I knit. It then goes to a lace panel that makes me think, but isn't overly difficult. Finally, it wraps up with a picot border. The variety takes my mind away from my worries, but the simplicity of parts of it can be meditative. Love!

Oh, and I meant to say that I'm really glad you talked about how you do a tab start for a shawl. I use that often and I've always knit an extra ridge. I just thought it was me who did that! And, I'm RichelleCK on Ravelry, since I think that's how we've talked before.

Paula, I love to listen to your podcasts. Comfort knitting kan be anything, when I´m in a part of knitting while it´s easy to knit and talk without looking the pattern all the time. It would be pleasure to knit Barcelona scarflett in colour buoy.

Such a wonderful idea, a pattern and yarn from Quince. I've been longing for some of their yarn and am hopeful of being drawn to receive it. Thank you, Quince and Co. My choice is Sabrina mitts in Columbine. Yum!Paula, I so enjoy your podcast and listen while reading your show notes and checking all of the patterns you talk about. Also, I've never heard bagpipe playing like you play on your show. Keep it up.

I like the fingerless mitts and LOVE the tern yarn- favorite color: back bay. In fact, I'm getting ready to list a new knitting pattern on Ravelry tomorrow (baby dress) and the Quince Tern yarn is the recommended yard for the pattern!

My comfort knitting is usually something worked in the round, like cowls and fingerless mitts. But my all time favorite way to relax with fiber is with my spinning wheel...no thinking and utterly relaxing!

I am a big Tern fan and making a choice is hard every time. I would say my favorite color is Sea Grass. To those that haven't tried Tern, or any of the Quince & Co yarns, you will not be disappointed, they are like chips and you can't have just one color of each!

I really need to try the Quince and Company yarn...and I'm so happy they are sponsoring your wonderful podcast. I'm trying hard not to be jealous of your bare ground as I look out on the many feet of snow still on the ground up here in North Dakota. I know spring will come eventually - but I'm ready for it now!

Another wonderful show, Paula. My comfort knitting is any knitting that's easy or repetitive enough that I can do a few rows on the fly. Knitting always calms and centers me. I always have a project with me that I can pick up when I have even two or three minutes (at work before a meeting starts, while the kettle is heating, when I'm on the phone).

As for Quince & Co. yarn: yes, it's wonderful. I first petted it at the Knitter's Review retreat last November. Pam Allen was there to show it off, and she was so delighted at how much people loved it. Despite her knitting fame, she has such a personal touch. It's wonderful for so many reasons to support her company and to knit with her lovely yarn.

Paula, I am a listener to your podcast since you started but this is the first time I've written you. I enjoy the knitting content, of course, but I learn the most from your Nature Notes. It is nice to hear the Canada Goose mentioned in a positive way; I so often hear complaints about how messy it is! I have not seen Quince and Co. yarn in person but have "drooled" over it online. It would be a pleasure to knit in any colour, I'm sure.

My comfort knitting is not based on easy vs. difficult. It all comes down to being able to grab a bag that contains everything I need to complete my project: pattern, needles, scissors, measuring tape, markers, etc. I can do most projects except fancy lace without having to think. I just need to grab and go whether I'm at home or on the road.

Love your podcast as always! I would have a hard time picking a favorite color. I haven't used tern before, but love the Quince Osprey. I'm working on my second project with it. In the tern, my favorite colors would be a toss up between stonington and driftwood. You can't go wrong with Quince yarns or colors. So glad they're sponsoring your podcast. They have great taste!

My comfort knitting is anything that is simple enough to not require frequent referencing of the pattern and not having to keep track of anything such as the number of rows or repeats. When I awoke to a snow storm this past Fri. I was so glad to not have anywhere to go and although spring is almost here I cast on a scarf out of soft and warm Baby Alpaca Grande and began a simple 2 row (k 1 row, rib 1 row) pattern as my comfort knitting.

Paula! Thanks for setting me free on the shawl cast on! I have done several lately with this type of start and the crochet with scrap yarn for 3 stitches seemed awfully fussy and the extra two rows of garter stitch make life so much easier. That 90 turn (twice) seem to turn my knitting into a big ol' knot! Another great podcast. Dave and I have to see those geese next year!So great to meet you and your pipes and your parents yesterday. I only wish now I'd arrived earlier with more time to spare for getting to know you. I saw a fox on the way home! A treat. See you soon at camp.K

As a relatively new knitter on a quick learning curve, lately comfort knitting has been any pattern where I don't actually have to look something up in an online tutorial, or even techniques I have done already.But I still love the challenge of learning new things, too. That's why I've been diving in.Just ordered a color card for Quince, so have only seen the colors on-line. But loving Columbine, Back Bay, and Driftwood.

My favorite comfort knitting is hats. I am awaiting the delivery of my first Quince order - Chickadee in Dogwood to make a shawl. If I am privileged to win the Quince give away I would choose Columbine to make the Sabrina Mitts. Paula, thanks for another engaging episode. I have enjoyed Lorna's book on hand-dyed yarn. I just received JC Briar's Charts Made Simple this week and am looking forward t diving it to it. (My Rav name is Choosejoy)

I totally agree with you about the shawl beginning. I never count the rows as I knit the narrow strip. I knit enough ridges for picking up stitches and I think I knit a couple of rows more than the patterns call for. I have decided that I'll never knit 2 sts edges on a shawl again if there's no reason for it. I always end up hating it and wishing the pattern called for 3 sts for each edge. Think I'm experienced enough to knit 2 extra sts to my shawl without messing anything up.

My comfort knitting is knitting I guess. Any knitting will do. If I have no project I'll just pick up a little leftover yarn and knit a little square with no purpose. A couple of days ago I just neede something to knit and I took a tiny ball of left over sock yarn and tried to knit a circle. It ended up being a pentagon rather than a cirle and then I got inspired by that little pentagon and decided to knit more sock yarn pentagons and make a pillow cover. A little pentagon with no purpose became a project. I'm still (a couple of days later) so excited about the way my project started. xD

Thanks for another wonderful Podcast, Paula. I too was intrigued by people who found complex knitting "comforting." I find comfort in any type of rhythmic pattern that becomes easy to memorize. I also find it gratifying and comforting to do a simple lace pattern where the repeat begins to emerge and I can take comfort in knowing I am doing something right!

I'm a new knitter so comfort knitting hasn't made it into my vocabulary yet. Of the few projects I've completed my most comfortable to wear knit project is the duffer slippers. I had to give it a few go's before I corectly completed my first slipper. Once I got the first duffer correct the second slipper flew off the needles. The felting was agonizing, but now I know to just keep throwing the slippers in with my jeans until they reach the degree of felty goodness I'm searching for.

I've recently come across a book called The Sweater Workshop by Jacqueline Fee. She hails from my neck of the woods, and her book mentions Elizabeth Zimmerman with great respect. I have EZ's Knitting Without Tears, and it's great reading. However being such a new knitter I'm a bit intimidated to just plow on with a sweater. I need to ease into such a big project. Which brings me to The Sweater Workshop. She has you make the sampler, something that doesn't require a lot of yarn, or time. Her claim is that once you finish the sampler you will have practiced everything, or at least many things you will need to complete a sweater. This will be my next project before I go on to knit my sweater with confidence. (I hope.)

Thanks for another lovely podcast. It would be lovely to win the Quince & Co. prize.

Thanks for such a wonderful podcsst. I always look forward to Knitting Pipeline and it has quickly become one of my favorites. Quince & Co. yarn is very lovely and I can't wait to get my hands on some. I especially like the Barcelona Scarflet pictured above. Of course, the Abbey Road Socks are nice, too, and the Sabrina mitts.....

As for comfort knitting, all knitting is comfort knitting to me. As long as I'm knitting, I'm pretty darn good.

Loved the latest episode. The pictures of you and your husband are great! I would love to try tern. I don't have much experience with this yarn weight but would love to try! I love all of the natural colors-sea grass is great!

I enjoyed hearing about the snow geese migration. In March 2009 and March 2010 we saw the Sandhill Cranes during their migration. They almost all go through south central Nebraska. It is quite a sight.

Paula, what a great idea, to think about one's knitting "comfort food". It didn't immediately come to mind, as I enjoy so many different kinds of projects. But I think for me it would be knitting baby blankets. They are a comfort to me, especially a simple pattern that I don't have to constantly read line by line, small enough not to be overwhelming but more substantial than a simple baby hat. I didn't start knitting as an adult until my children were well past the baby blanket stage, so making these blankets for charity is not only a comfort but also brings the joy of giving a work of my hands."PuffyGriffinclaw" Rav ID

The Barcelona scarflet would be beautiful in the columbine colorway. My comfort knitting is either vanilla socks or something challenging, usually a lace triangular shawl. I'm definitely a process knitter so I have enough socks and shawls to last for a long time. I love the podcast. Thanks.

Hi Paula: I am such a fan of your podcast. Thanks for being there! I haven't yet ordered anything from Quince -- I have a great LYS so it's hard to think of getting anything elsewhere -- but I might just have to soon. Your descriptions make me want to try it. I love the palette of the Tern yarn; I especially like the Seaweed color.

Hi Paula, I have been coveting the Backbay colorway of Tern. I am also making the slip stitch socks for the Box of Socks. Actually mine are in time out right now, but I do plan on getting back to them. I am finding the first sock to be a little tight, so I think I will go up to a size 2 needle for the second. Love your show, thanks.

Paula, you are so awesome!! My comfort knitting is socks! I love them, I can zone my brain out and I'm still getting something useful and beautiful! Also, I LOVE that Seaweed color of the Tern! I'm so excited we are down to just a few weeks until we get to meet at CampKIP!! WOOHOO!

Garter stitch or simple sock cuffs are always cozy and comforting, but I often choose my comfort knitting based on color. Soft blues (the Boothbay in Tern is lovely) or grays are usually soothing, sometimes a soft green.

Just wanted to say how much I continue to enjoy the podcast and the pipes! I usually listen while I'm at the gym and it helps make the time go by pleasantly. I miss Franklin and the girls though and hope they're ok. There are lots of wild turkeys in my area but at present the most interesting bird is a peacock that has adopted our church. A gorgeous creature although it does poop an awful lot!Catspawlace on Ravelry

I do so love this podcast - we live in rural Wisconsin surrounded by wildlife -- besides birds we have lots and lots of critters! I am a knitter and my husband was in a pipe band in the Cities when I met him, so we have some things in common...I appreciate your attention to carefully crafting the podcast, as well as your lovely knitting. Keep it up! (My favorite color is the columbine :)

I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. It sounds like you and your husband had a wonderful nature adventure with the snow geese. I have replayed the musical selection by Aff the Cuff several times. It was a great morning pick me up. Your wool peddlers shawl is beautiful. Thanks for introducing me to Quince and Company. I am eager to try some in the future.

It is really hard to pick a color since they are all so beautiful. I am going to pick the colorway "kelp" because it is a color that I have never used. I love your wool peddlers shawl. I will have to put that on my queue.

My comfort knitting is my vanilla socks on magic loop. I keep them in my purse so I have them at every moment of every day (except if I'm swimming!). I think a little at the toes, knit around mindlessly, think a little at the heels, knit around mindlessly and end up with a lovely pair of socks!

For comfort, I love working on things that take a little attentiveness. Since I'm pretty much a beginner and am mostly working on cardigans and socks, almost every project involves lots of learning. Hours go by so quickly and happily when thus engaged.

Hi Paula!Your podcast is always wonderful! And I frequently listen more than once; also, further exploring many of the things you talk about.Quince & Co yarns are so beautiful, and while I have not tried any of them yet, I am lusting to do so.

Thank you for your review of Lorna's new book, the beautiful hand-painted yarns intimidate me--this book sounds like a big help!

As far as comfort knitting, I think at different times I need a simple project and an intriging book to listen to while knitting. While at other times, what works is something complex that requires total focus on my part.

It makes me so thrilled that Quince and Co is a sponser of your podcast. It's my favorite yarn. Being in Maine and having access to the KnitWit yarn shop (which carries the yarn) just a mere 30 minutes away you'd think that I had more time to go and just marvel in it's beauty but unfortunately that's not the case. I am knitting a Stephen West Shawl Pattern in Tern right now (the sea grass colorway) and I'm in love.

I adore the Boothbay Blue colorway in Tern. I'm just catching up on my podcasts, I'm an episode behind right now. For comfort knitting, I just love to sit and listen to a knitting podcast and knit on something easily memorized. Not so much cables and charts, like so many others. I just focus on the feel of the fiber and the rhythm of the knitting.

Thanks for another great podcast, Paula. I love the music by Aff the Cuff. Also loved hearing about the snow geese. That must have been a sight to behold. Very generous of Quince and Co. to offer a giveaway. I like a lot of the colors. If I need to state a favorite, I'd say it's a tie between seaweed or sea grass.

Stonington is a great color, although I had a difficult time picking a favorite. After looking at the color, I'd go with the Abbey Road Sock pattern for this.

I also love knitting vanills socks for comfort. The Daybreak Shawl has been fun, too.

I love the way Quince & Company has set up their site so when you click on a color, the photo of the yarn changes. Also, the magnifying glass that appears when you hover your mouse over the yarn gives a close-up. Nice.

Paula: Knitting is my "escape" from the real world as it may so I like projects that engage me, but at the same time, don't require me to look at the pattern all the time. You're going to think I'm crazy but I like a double knitting project for comfort knitting because once the pattern is established, you don't need to look at the instructions and double knitting tends to occupy enough of my brain space that I can "tune" everything else out......well, I will call 911 if pressed and with good reason!! Thanks for another great episode! Ruth (Counting Sheep Podcast)

Comfort knitting is...socks. They are easy for me and don't take up much room when I am work. I just need something to take up time if I have to wait anywhere, am bored, don't know what else to do or am sad. Of late, the news has me kntting socks a lot. It keeps me sane and is productive, satisfying, and calming. I do knit other things, but socks beat out all.

For me, comfort knitting is dishcloths (right now I'm making a giant, holding worsted cotton double) and the blanket that AJ and I are making together. I must admit, AJ has made way more progress on the blanket than I have...

My comfort knitting is a knit in the round stockinette baby hat...a pattern from my LYS. The girl version has a pretty little ruffle around the brim, and both the boys and girls have cute little curlicues on top. I knit them out of Cascade Fixation. I would love to win the Quince and Co yarn and patterns. I've recently discovered them and am very curious to try the yarn. Just found the podcast and am really enjoying it. Thanks!

As comfort knitting I am knitting a Quince & Company scarf, Squared Scarf, in chickadee, colorway is Rosa Rugosa. So I do enjoy listening to your podcasts. I try listening to other knitting podcasts, but I enjoy yours more than others. And I can't quite describe why other than our interests are similar, nature, music, knitting.My favorite color of Tern is Columbine.Thank you, Kelli

I really enjoy the podcast and look forward to trying Quince and Co. yarns. My comfort knitting is a small project with an easy pattern...something I can memorize so I don't have to keep the chart in front of me. I'm currently knitting hats for the homeless and enjoying them very much because they are a fast project!